Recent studies show that over 80% of male impotency cases may be caused by a high cholesterol diet.  On the other hand, around 50% of men with higher cholesterol have increasing rates of impotency than those with healthy cholesterol levels. Additional studies also show that men with total cholesterol higher than 240 milligrams per deciliter were twice as likely to have high cholesterol impotence as those with cholesterol levels below 180 mg per deciliter. There are plenty of treatments including medicines and therapies available to treat high cholesterol and erectile dysfunction. However, a healthy diet for men together with proper exercise can greatly help in lowering cholesterol and upholding sexual life.

Lowering the body’s bad cholesterol requires joint efforts in removing saturated fats in the diet.  Saturated fat increases the LDL (low density lipoprotein) or also known as the bad cholesterol in the bloodstream.

Here are some examples of food rich in saturated fats that can hurt your healthy diet:

• Fatty meat including meat drippings
• Bacon, sausage and processed meats
• Duck, chicken and turkey with skin
• Egg yolks
• Butter
• Hard fat or oil in stick form, lard and shortening
• Hydrogenated vegetable oil
• Coconut, coconut oil, palm oil, palm kernel oil and cocoa butter
• Cream and whole milk dairy products such as cheese, ice cream and sour cream
• Processed grain products such as cookies, cakes, muffins and pastries

It is essential to avoid food high in cholesterol especially saturated fat in the diet list above.  In contrast, HDL (high density lipoprotein) also known as good cholesterol is vital for energy production. This is helpful to patients suffering from erection problems such as erectile dysfunction and impotence.

The following are some of the food that can help increase HDL cholesterol in the body:

• Food high in Omega 3 – Flax seed oil, salmon, pumpkin seeds, walnuts and walnut oil, soybeans, dark green leafy vegetables like seaweed, greens, broccoli and kale. Spring leaves, dark salad leaves, cabbage and Brussels sprouts are also high in Omega 3.
• Food high in soluble fiber – Oat bran, oatmeal, beans, peas, rice bran, barley, citrus fruits, strawberries and apple pulp.
• Soy products – Soy milk, soy patties and any other food that substitutes animal products with soy can helps lower LDL (bad cholesterol) and increases HDL cholesterol.

Exercise is also beneficial for men with high cholesterol and erectile dysfunction. It lowers LDL cholesterol and increases HDL cholesterol in the body. Also, exercise facilitates weight reduction and helps you look at your best, boosting self confidence which can also help with sexual performance. Aside from improvement in sexual performance, a 30 minute daily exercise program provides great health benefits for men with erection problems. It could be done either at the gym or working out at home. The best exercises to increase HDL cholesterol are aerobic or cardiovascular exercises. This includes yoga, jogging, swimming, running and brisk walking. Aerobic exercise will also help maintain a healthy heart and build muscle tone.  For beginners, exercise could be started at a slower pace and gradually increase to a more vigorous routine. This is necessary since going directly to a full speed exercise may cause health risks. It’s common sense but remember to move at your own pace and gradually raise intensity as you go.

A healthy diet is critical for patients with high cholesterol levels. Eating a healthy diet for men, exercising and taking prescribed medications are some of the few ways to reverse high cholesterol and prevent erectile dysfunction.